Classical Archives - WORT 89.9 FM

Contact Information

Music Director: Sybil Augustine – musicdirector@wortfm.org (for music submissions, charts and tracking, promotional exchanges for music events and following up on volunteer applications or other requests. Please include specifics in your subject line, such as “Hiphop Music Submission” etc, )

Music Assistant: Aaron Scholz – musicass@wortfm.org (for record donations and sales, promos recording volunteers, etc.)

Music Calendars: Submit your events online here or send by email to calendar@wortfm.org

How do I get my music played on WORT?

We accept submissions in most genres and styles of music, focusing on noncommercial, out-of-the-mainstream, independent releases (check out our playlists and music charts for more information.) It may take up to a few weeks for us to review and process your submission so we appreciate your patience, and feel free to contact us to follow up. Please send your music, indicating any tracks with language that needs to be aired after 10 pm and including a one-sheet description and any biographical and tour information, to WORT Music Director, 118 S. Bedford St, Madison, WI 53703 and/or to musicdirector@wortfm.org.

We do accept digital files on .wav or mp3, but currently we still prefer CDs to digital submissions because it’s the quickest way to get it into the hands of our programmers and onto the airwaves, though we have a growing digital library. Digital submissions should be .wav or other lossless files, or high quality mp3s [128-320 kbps.]

You can follow up or “track” your submissions by email, or call 608-256-2001 on Wednesdays between 1-4 pm CST to ask if we received it, has it been reviewed, has it been added to our library, and what kind of airplay it’s getting—e.g. light, medium, heavy or charting. Thanks and we look forward to hearing your music!

WORT Music Playlists

What was that song I heard? Who was the artist, what is the album title, where can I get it? Where can I find the entire playlist for a show?

Click on the Playlists button to bring up a calendar where you can choose any date to find the playlists for that day. If you can’t find the right playlist or the song you’re looking for, your best bet is to call the station the next time that program’s on and ask the host yourself. If that’s not possible we may be able to help you, but please have as much information as possible at hand when you contact us, such as: approximate day and time the music was played, what type or genre of music it was, who hosted the show and any other information you remember about the selection and we’ll do our best to track it down.

Once you figure it out, there’s a “Buy It!” link next to each track in online playlists that leads you to a place where you can buy songs and albums, and by doing it that way a small portion of each purchase goes to support WORT.

Madison New Music Festival Debuts New Works, Celebrates Wisconsin Comp...

August 7, 2019 by Back Porch Serenade

Now in its fourth year, the Madison New Music Festival is helping music lovers in the city connect with the latest works by living composers. On Tuesday, August 6th, founder Zachary Green spoke with WORT’s Peter Haney about the festival, which runs August 9th, 10th, and 11th at various locations in central Madison. Highlights of […]

John W. Barker retires

July 23, 2019 by Musica Antiqua

Last Sunday morning John W. Barker hosted his annual Christmas in July program on Musica Antiqua. During the show, he announced that it would be his last show, as failing health was forcing him to step down after nearly 20 years as one of the co-hosts on the program. John has been a major figure […]

A Fresh Take on Kundiman with Leslie Damaso and Mr. Chair

May 21, 2019 by Back Porch Serenade

Soprano Leslie Damaso and Pianist Jason Kutz won a 2018 MAMA award for their debut album “May Laya” (Tagalog for “There is Freedom”) which featured Kundiman, a Filipino song genre with roots in the independence movements of late 19th Century. Kutz also plays with Mr. Chair, a futuristic electronic/jazz/rock/classical quartet that includes bassist Ben Ferris, […]

Early Music America Honors WORT’s Musica Antiqua

March 12, 2019 by Musica Antiqua

Early Music America celebrates the joy, meaning, and purpose in studying and experiencing historically informed performance. For many years EMA has designated March as Early Music Month. As part of this year’s celebration, EMA has listed several of the radio programs that feature early music – including Musica Antiqua on WORT! Read the whole article […]

‘Tis the Season

December 17, 2018 by Musica Antiqua

Are you already tired of the seasonal muzak you’re hearing in stores and on some radio stations? Cleanse your ears with special programming on WORT! For example, Musica Antiqua (8-11 am Sundays) has several special shows lined up. Check our audio archives from the past two Sundays to hear John W. Barker play a complete […]

Christa Patton on Monteverdi

November 15, 2018 by Musica Antiqua

Is Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea relevant to young performers and a modern audience? On Nov. 16, 18, & 20, UW Opera presents this masterpiece about the woman who schemed to become empress with Nero. Baroque opera specialist Christa Patton talked about the challenges in staging the opera with John W. Barker and Alan Muirhead on the […]

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Contact Information

How do I get my music played on WORT?

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